Connemara Magic!

Travel in comfort and style through the enchanted scenery and natural beauty of world-famous Connemara.

Enjoy the majestic mountains, the historic castles, the serene lakes and the glimmering islands that were long ago, inhabited by saintly men and women who earned for Ireland the title of The Island of Saints and Scholars!

Leaving the vibrant, cultural and medieval city of Galway behind, for the moment, you can choose the Wild Atlantic Way along by the world-renowned Galway Bay through the Irish-speaking town of Spiddal.

After travelling through miles of beautiful rugged terrain, perhaps visiting the holiday home of Padraic H. Pearse, one of the 1916 Leaders of the Easter Rising, and the picturesque village of Roundstone, you will later arrive at the charming town of Clifden, known as the Capital of Connemara.

Close by Clifden is the landing site of the first two men Alcock & Brown who flew an aeroplane non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean in 1919.

A Memorial marks the spot not far from where they crash-landed, bu
t luckily for them, they both escaped unharmed.

Guigielmo Marconi, Nobel prize winner in Physics (1909) was the first man to transmit commercial radio signals from Nova Scotia to this same place a few hundred yards away from Alcock & Brown Memorial site.

After enjoying a visit to this delightful town of Clifden a scenic drive along the Sky Road should not be missed and be sure to have your camera with you! as you won’t see sights like this everyday!

To your right hand side as you drive along these towns and villages, The Twelve Bens stand tall and proud. For the names of each one and their elevation see page 103 of Croagh Patrick & Me [Book No. 4 written by your driver].

Leaving Clifden behind you will soon afterwards arrive in the attractive village of Letterfrack, which is well-known for, among other things, being the location of one of Ireland’s National Parks as well as the majestic mountain known as Diamond Hill.

It is also renowned for its lively pubs and dining cuisine.

The scenic peninsula of Renvyle is renowned for its numerous sandy beaches, medieval history and ancient Granualie Castle and of course the landmark Renvyle House Hotel which was once the home of writer and poet Oliver St. John Gogarty.

This was the holiday location for many famous writers and painters and artists, not to mention bishops, politicians and presidents and its appeal continues to this day.

Ireland’s Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick is clearly visible across Killary Harbour from Renvyle and one of St. Patrick’s many nephews – St. Rioch – lived in Renvyle and is reputed to be buried in the ancient burial ground of Salruck.

Not too far away is the picturesque gem of Kylemore Abbey, the foundation stones of which are laid on romantic love and the loyal marital relationship of Mitchell Henry and his wife Margaret Vaughan. Many stories and even entire books have been written about this love story.

My own version of how and when and at what cost Kylemore Castle, as it was known originally, came to be constructed after the newly-married couple happened to visit Connemara on their honeymoon in 1849, is written about in Saints off Connemara Coast & Other Stories (starting page 51).

A few short miles past Kylemore Abbey is one of the very few (if not the only) fjord in Ireland.

Leenane was the scenic location for Jim Sheridan’s film The Field, shot here in 1989 starring Richard Harris, Brenda Fricker, John Hurst, Sean Bean, Tom Bergener and many others.

The King of England Edward VII and his wife Queen Alexandra landed in Leenane in July 1903 and after lunch in the local hotel toured the Renvyle peninsula in a nine-car cavalcade. Adjoining Leenane lies the highest mountain in Connacht at 2, 671 feet high.

At the very top according to ancient Irish mythology Diarmuid O Duibhne and his lover the beautiful Grainne are now buried.

Diarmuid and Grainne fled on the eve of her wedding to Fionn Mac Cool who was reputedly older than her father.

She was the daughter of High King Cormac Mac Airt, who arranged for her to be married to Fionn Mac Cool, but she had other ideas!

After driving through the wide and peaceful Maam Valley and alongside the Maamturk Mountains you arrive at Maam Cross, which is in the centre of Connemara.

There you will join the main road connecting Clifden with Galway city.

After many more miles of beautiful, rugged terrain, museum mines, the fishing town of Oughterard which is close to the second largest lake in Ireland – Lough Corrib – and perhaps a visit to the mediaeval Aughanure Castle outside Oughterard, a short drive of less than twenty miles will bring you back into the vibrant city of Galway, which is just waiting to be explored and enjoyed until all hours of the morning if you have the energy and enthusiasm after an a most enjoyable day exploring the mystical and magical Connemara!